below the heavens, in the surviving outskirts of Arenthia
A young knight knelt in the ruins.
His name was Sir Kaelen Dorne.
Twentytwo years old.
Captain of the Silver Vanguard.
He had watched the palace fold into nothing.
He had watched the sky tear open.
He had watched Lorien smile.
Kaelen's gauntlets trembled.
Why he whispered.
A spear of golden light descended from the heavens.
It did not burn him.
It crowned him.
The voice of Velkarion echoed in his mind.
Rise, Kaelen Dorne. You will become the Counterbalance.
Power surged through his veins.
His armor reforged itself into radiant whitegold plate etched with celestial sigils.
A blade formed in his hand
Judicium.
The Sword of Absolute Correction.
Velkarion's voice thundered:
The Fool bends reality through mockery.
You will stabilize it through conviction.
Kaelen stood.
Pain turned into purpose.
I will kill him, Kaelen said quietly.
Above, Lorien paused midlaugh.
He looked down.
Through layers of reality.
Through dimensions.
Directly at Kaelen.
Their eyes met across existence.
Lorien's smile widened.
Oh good, he murmured.
A protagonist.
Kaelen felt the gaze.
His heart nearly stopped.
Velkarion spoke again:
He is chaos.
Kaelen tightened his grip on Judicium.
Then I'll be order.
Lorien tapped his mask.
This is going to be fun.
Lyssara watched silently.
And for the first time
She wondered who would be telling the truth when this was over.